Construction of nanostructured carbonaceous films by the layer-by-layer self-assembly of poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride and poly(amic acid) and subsequent pyrolysis

Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), PD, and poly(amic acid), PA, were l ayer-by-layer self-assembled onto quartz and mica substrates, S. Quantitati ve formation of the self-assembled films, S-(PD/PA)(n), were characterized by absorption spectroscopy, by quartz crystal microbalance measurements, an d by scanning force microscopy (AFM). Pyrolysis of the S-(PD/PA)(n) films b y heating to 1000 degrees C proceeded via the formation of subsequent carbo nization of a polyimide intermediate which ultimately produced a graphite-l ike carbonaceous film with conductivities in the 150-200 S cm(-1) range. AF M images indicated the assembly of laminar carbon nano islands with increas ing n in S-(PD/PA)(n).